Demolition of the defunct Novi Expo Center began Monday and is expected to take about six weeks to complete.
The 300,000-square-foot building at Interstate 96 and Novi Road has been vacant for seven years. It was replaced by the Rock Financial Showplace, which was recently renamed the Suburban Collection Showplace.
The center once hosted boat, home and garden, and golf shows, among other events.
The owner of the 25-acre Novi Expo site hasn’t yet said how the property, on prime real estate near shopping and affluent homes, will be used. It is owned by Kevin Adell, whose late father built the center.
The 200,000-gallon water tower on the site will not be torn down, a spokeswoman for the center’sowners said.
The 46-year-old building previously housed Mohawk Liquor, which made Kahlua for world distribution from 1981 to 1992.
Adell Industries also occupied the building. That firm invented, developed and built automotive door guards still used by the Detroit automakers.
